Elementary teachers could strike as early as Dec. 17

Local public school elementary teachers could be in a position to strike as early as Dec. 17, but the union representing teachers vows to give parents 72 hours notice of any planned job action.

The latest move was sparked after talks between local representatives of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and the Waterloo Region District School Board ended Nov. 23. The groups were meeting with a Labour Relations Board conciliation officer appointed by the provincial government to oversee collective bargaining. But the meeting was almost over before it began.

“It took all of about five minutes,” noted Greg Weiler, local president of the teachers’ federation.

Weiler described the relationship between the union and the board as good, but likened Friday’s meeting to a formality because newly passed government legislation, Bill 115, leaves little room for meaningful negotiation. The bill directs school boards and local teacher unions to adopt a contract almost identical to one reached with the English Catholic teachers last summer as part of an overall bid to save the government billions in spending.

With talks stalling, Weiler said local elementary teachers will be in a position to commence formal strike action as of Dec. 17. While that action could be anything from teachers refusing to volunteer for extra-curricular activities or do administration duties, they could ultimately see full-scale walk-outs by teachers.

But he cautioned that no action will be kicking in soon.

“Locally, there’s nothing happening for at least a couple of weeks.”

Even if teachers were to commence any kind of strike action, the timing will be more favourable to local students. Within days of any strike campaign action, students will be off on Christmas holidays. Other school districts, including York and Ottawa, are already engaged in strike action because their negotiations broke off earlier.

For now, the teachers’ union and board representatives are taking a wait and see stance at how things play out in other boards. Schinkel said the board is developing contingency plans based on what happens elsewhere.

The local Catholic board reached a contract in the summer and it’s “business as usual”, said a spokesperson.